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Persons running for the JCCA Board Of DirectorsC. Michael Benson - Alaska
From Bellingham, Washington. Resident of Anchorage, Alaska for 42 years. Husband married 50 plus years, father of 4, grandfather and great grandfather.
Former boardmember - Alaska Kennel Club. Servedon the Japanese Chin Club of America board in the 1980's and 90's. Past President of the
Japanese Chin Club of America. Former co-editor of the Chin Chit Chat. AKC judge - began judging Japanese Chins provisionally in 1995. We received our
first Japanese Chin in 1978 and continuedexhibiting and breeding Chins until about 2005.
Thelma Carlson- Missouri
I am married to my wonderful husband Max Carlson and we live in the beautiful Ozarks of Missouri. We have a small ranch and it looks as if my husband
has retired now from his trucking job with Conway, due to his health. We are helping to raise four grandchildren in our home with our son right now as
well. I began raising dogs 50 years ago producing my first champion that year, a wire haired terrier, and have had many breeds over those years. I love
dogs but chins are so special and delightful. I began showing chins in 1990 and have bred and owned National and Regional Specialty and Sweeps winners and
nationally top #1 winning chins of both sexes. I've bred many champions and I am not sure of the number but probably well past 50. I've bred dogs that
have become champions in 9 countries. I've been a member of the chin club for nearly 20 yrs. I only breed, raise and show chins. I love them. I've always
enjoyed the travel and meeting new people when going to dog shows. As I get older and have more responsibility to grand kids I have had a bit more
trouble getting the freedom. I am a JCCA mentor and will be a Sweeps judge for JCCA in 2014. I want to volunteer my experience and abilities to the
club if the membership feels moved to elect me to the Board this year.
Anthony Galliano - Washington
My Kennel Prefix is Alijon. I formally had Afghan Hounds and got my first Japanese Chin in 1988. I am a very small (very small) hobby breeder,
producing what I feel are quality dogs who have been the Foundation of some major Chin Breeder's, Gayel, Oh-My and Poolside Chin. I am committed to
the Japanese Chin, its place as a contender in the Toy Group.
Janet Lockyer - Texas
After 25 + years in Toy Poodles, I switched to Japanese Chin 6 1/2 years ago. My first Chin is from Beverly Merritt and I had such fun showing her that
I was bitten by the bug again. Pearl, Am and UKC Ch. Funny Face at Jan'l, has produced 4 champions for us. I have been a member of many dog clubs in
California, Texas and New York as my husband's career crisis crossed us back and forth across the country. I am currently a member of Alamo Area Toy
Dog Club and have been a JCCA member for about 5 years. My contribution the the various clubs was ring stewarding, match and sweeps judging, trophies
and raffles as well as the odd board position here and there. Have served on the board for the past year and have enjoyed learning club workings from
the inside. If the membership so votes, I will be happy to continue in this capacity.
Beverly Merritt - New York
I retired from teaching in 1999. I was a primary grade teacher for 34 years. I enjoyed working with young children for all those years, but when
retirement time came I couldn't believe that I would enjoy it so much. I now had so much more time to devote to breeding and showing my dogs. My first
breed was Toy Poodles. I started showing and breeding them in the 70's and finished many champions. I got my first Japanese Chin in 1991 and have been
hooked on the breed every since. I have been breeding Chin for 11 years. During that time, I have bred a National Specialty Best of Breed winner and a
Westminster Breed winner. The greatest advantage of being involved with Japanese Chin for me, is that I truly love working with them and caring for
them. It is so rewarding to breed a litter of puppies and watch them grow into beautiful show dogs or delightful pets for other people. Another plus of
being involved with the breed is that I have made many wonderful friends. As a former Japanese Chin Club of America board member, I feel I have an
understanding of the procedures and work of the Board. I feel the most important goals of our club are to educate people about our wonderful breed
and to maintain the qualities others have worked so hard to achieve in the breeding of the Japanese Chin.
Donna Stoffer - Alabama
I started my formative years in dogs as I learned to walk on our family’s boxer, George. My father was a career Officer in the USAF and we were
fortunate to live and see so much of our wonderful United States and I started school in Germany and graduated high school in Oklahoma. I went to
school in many states and college at Texas Tech University. I was an Art major and Voice minor. Singing artists have a tough job market, so went back
to earn a degree in Education. I have three wonderful children and two grandchildren. I have owned, bred and loved Bulldogs for 25 years, added French
Bulldogs 20 years ago and then was given the wonderful gift of Japanese Chins a short 4 years ago.
Lisa White - Missouri
I am the owner of a really fun business called Paws On The Set. We cast and train dogs and cats for TV commercials, movies and advertising. We have
many well known National clients. I also own Chapel Hill Pet Resort which I run with my husband Clark White and a handful of employees. We stay very
busy.
I grew up in a "dog family" with Golden Retrievers. My family was active in obedience, conformation, agility and tracking. As an adult I raised and
trained Australian Shepherds. I was very involved in obedience, agility and conformation. I bred a few litters of Australian Shepherds and finished
about fifteen Champions, some of my own breeding, some others. I handled all breeds for awhile and then happened to meet the Japanese Chin breed. I
fell in love with their sweet gentle temperament and their darling little flat faces. I've had them for over fifteen years now. We usually have about
twenty running around the house. My stepdaughter, Jordan, is thirteen and likes to help me show our "kids". My niece, Mary Kate is eighteen. I gave her
a really pretty little bitch puppy years ago. Mary Kate finished her and showed her in Junior Showmanship until she aged out. Clark loves the Chin and
prefers to stage them outside the ring and help take care of them at home. He gets really nervous in the show ring. I don't know how many bred by
Champions I've had, maybe ten to fifteen.
I was on the Board for a couple of years ten years ago and again for two years currently. I generally get along with everyone I'm ever involved with,
both in business and personally. I've always been described as being hardworking, level headed and organized. I'm not long winded and usually get to
the point and like to hear what others have to say. I have no personal agenda. I just show the Chin because it is a fun family activity and I like to
dress up and parade around the ring with my pretty little fancy dogs. We as a National Club, have to be our precious little companion's caretakers and
I think it takes people who have good sense to do that.
I put great emphasis not only on conforming to the Breed Standard for any breed, but also on sound body and mind. I came from "big dogs" and any dog
has to have good solid structure and temperament first and foremost. Our breed is a "Head Breed" and I do love a beautiful head, but that head has to
be able to move from here to there in an efficient manner. I want to do everything I can in order to ensure this wonderful breed continues on into the
future as the beautiful, sound, sweet little dogs they are...
TheresaLeatherwood - Texas - Treasurer 2013
I am a chin addict. Many of you may know me from my days in rescue, but I thought I might give you the history of my life with chin. And bottom-line
up front, I believe that as an officer, I can play an important part in the future of the club that I am proud to be member of. 20 years ago, I got
my first chin boy after delivering the ultimatum to my husband that he either participate in the search for our first dog together (actually his first
dog period) or be prepared to live with what I bought. I got my first “show” chin girl in 1996, but found out that she was petrified at shows so I
didn’t make her go. In 1997, I volunteered to work on the Specialty at Purina Farms as the banquet chairman and I helped with other aspects of the
show. I also got involved with raising funds for rescue. The specialty was so much fun, from the actual show itself to the banquet which was held at
the AKC Dog Museum, courtesy of Gilbert Kahn. And I met my first of many breed mentors, Ann Signoracci, who took the time at the show to explain
everything that went on and give me her opinion while we worked the catalog table. During the next year we corresponded and she gifted me with my
second really beautiful chin girl, Windy. Both of my first two girls lived for 16 years and I believe that was a testament to the quality of the
breeding as well as the loving care Bill and I both gave them. Over the last 15 years, I met many of the most knowledgeable breeders in the country,
many now gone.
I became active in rescue around the same time, 1997, working as a board member, regional coordinator, and finally as the director. I believe that
rescue is dark side of the mirror to the good breeders. Everything that is bad in the genetics of the breed is amplified in rescue. I saw so much bad,
that had it not been for the fact that I knew there were breeders out there who were as dedicated and in love with this breed as I was, I might have
despaired of all breeders and the future of this ancient breed. But, I knew I wanted good chin that exemplified the breed standard and became determined
to someday breed what I loved. While involved in rescue, I preached the mantra to the rescue world, that without good breeders, we would lose the
things that made us love chin best.
My first champion was a sable Chindale girl, Evil, that I got from Dale Adams 2002. She was the first of 4 finished champions sitting in my living room
now. I bred my first litter in 2004. I was totally hooked on breeding and resolved to show my own although I lost the next 3 litters. In 2008 I bought
my next bitch to show. I just finished the puppy bitch out of her litter born last year and I am determined to try to produce more chin puppies who
will contribute to the breed as a whole when I retire in 2014.
I have been involved in dog clubs during my entire his same time and the work involved in clubs; I was a founding member of the Alamo Area Toy Dog Club
in 2001 and have served as a board member or officer for the entire time of its existence. I was the show chairman for our first two specialties and I
am currently vice president.
At work, I am a 29-year federal employee where I manage $7 million in contracts and over $2 million in multi-year research grant funds. I also plan,
program, and execute an annual budget of $5 million for the US Army Graduate School. I hold a secret clearance and as treasurer, am willing, if asked,
to provide the same level of financial disclosure I am required to report to the government. In 2014, I will retire (Hallelujah!) and hope to begin
breeding more.
If elected, I promise to work with other members of the club to provide a lasting legacy for breeders and fanciers of the wonderful breed.
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